Chain of the folded metal-link type.



E. H. KERNS.

CHAIN OF THE FOLDED METAL LINK TYPE.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.6, 191s.

Ll fi n Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

' pnrrnn STATES Parana @LFFKQE EVRAND H. KERNS, OF WEEDSPORT, NEW YORK.

CHAIN OF THE FOLDED METAL-LINK TYPE.

Application filed October 6, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EVRAND H. KERNS, of Weedsport, in the county ofCayuga, in the State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Chains of the Folded Metal-Link Type, of which thefollowing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is afull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in chains of the foldedmetal-link type having elongated slots for receiving the folds or loopsof adjacent links whereby when the chain is stretched out in a straightline, the links will all lie in substantially the same flat plane, thuspermitting it to be wrapped flatwise around pipes, drums, packages andthe like for use as a link belt, binder for barrels, boxes and otherpackages but more particularly as a pipe hanger.

The main object is to provide each link with a special form of slotcontractednear one end and slightly enlarged near'its opposite end forinterlocking engagement with the portion of any one of the other linksnear the junction of the loop with the main body, thus permitting thelink at either end of the chain to be securely attached to any otherlink without the aid of extra fastening means.

Another object is to prevent relative enclwise movement of theinterlocked links when adjusted for use around a pipe or other object.

Additional objects and uses will be brought out in the followingdescription.

Figure 1 is a face view of a portion of a chain embodying the variousfeatures of my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are edge views of the same chainshowing the different methods by which the links may interlock one withthe other after drawing the chain around a pipe or other object. Figs. 4and 5 are perspective views of the interlocking links shown respectivelyin Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 6 is a face view of one of the link blanks beforebeing folded.

As illustrated, this chain comprises any number of links 1- each' havingat one end a loop 2 while its opposite end is Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

Serial No. 793,720.

spending in width approximately to the width of the loop and throughwhich the loop of another similar link is adapted to be inserted toestablish interlocking connection between the adjacent links.

Each link preferably consists of a strip of sheet metal of substantiallytwice the length of the link as shown in Fig. 6, the intermediateportion of the strip being reduced to form a relatively narrow neckconnecting the ends 3' which are relatively wider and provided with theslots 3 previously mentioned, the reduced central portion of the stripbeing bent in the form of a loop or eye 2- whereby the opposite widerends -3' are brought together flatwise face to face with their apertures-3 in registration.

The length of the slot 3 is equal to or slightly greater than the widthof the adjacent portions of the link so as to permit either end of thelink-blank or strip to be inserted edgewise therethrough until thereduced portion is registered therewith whereupon the link may bereturned a quarter turn to a flatwise position relatively to theadjacent link for interlocking the loop of such link with the slottedend of the adjacent link, this operation being continued throughout thelength of the chain.

The width of the greater portion of the slot -3 is substantially equalto or slightly greater than that of the reduced portion of the linkwhich forms a loop 2- to allow the loop of another link to be passededgewise therethrough, but in order to carry out the specific objects ofmy invention, the wider portion of the link near its junction with theloop 2- is provided with inwardly projecting shoulders or abutmcnts 4 atopposite sides of the slot 3-- but spaced a distance apart equal to orslightly greater than the thickness of the link, but still of less Widththan the width of the main portion of the slot or loop 2 to allowanother link to be moved edgewise between and from one end to the otherend of the shoulders. The formation of the opposed vshoulders ''-4between the ends of the slot 3 enables either end of one of thevprovided with a lengthwise slot 3- correend links of a chain to beinserted through the slot 3- of any one of the other links until itsreduced portion is registered with the shoulders *4;- whereupon suchendloop of the end link at one side and its wider portion at theopposite side of the link with which it is interlocked. H I

j The opposite edges of the portions of each link near the junction ofthe loop 2 with the main body are inclined forming exterior beveledshoulders 6 which not only serve to stitl'en this portion of the linkbut allows either end link of the chain to be conveniently interlockedwith any of the other links around a pipe' or other object and for thispurpose, the opposite sides of the end of the link opposite the loop 2are provided with notches or recesses 7 forming an enlargement of thecorresponding end of the slot 3 near the outer end thereof although thewidth of this enlarged portion of the slot is still less than that ofthe main body of the link in which the recesses are formed so that whenthe slotted end of an end link is inserted edgewise through the slot ofanother link, the tapering shoulders '6 may" be registered with anddrawn tightly into the recesses 7 to lock said end link against lateralmovement in the slot of the adjacent link, the notches or recesses 7being located a s'ufiicient distanee from the outer end of the slot 6-to permit the attachment and free movement of the loop of another linkto the end of the first named link as shown more clearly in Fig. 3.

The distance between the shoulders 4- and inner end of the slot -3- isless than the diameter of the loop to prevent the latter from beingwithdrawn therefrom when its link is interlocked with another link asshown in Figs. 2 and 4. For example, assuming that in Fig. 2 the linkwhich is in- 's erted through the slot of another link is an end linkand that said other link is part of the main body of the chain, then ifthe looped end of the end link is the free end of such link, it may beinserted edgewise through the portion of the slot in the body link atthe outside of the shoulders 1 and then turned a quarter turn and movededgewise through the contracted portion of the slot between saidshoulders until its reduced portion is brought into the portion of theslot at the inner side of the shoulders whereupon it may be returned aquarter turn to interlock it with the body link against endwise orlateral displacement, thus forming a loop as A+ of aportion of the chainwhich may be passed around a pi eer other object to., support or and aresame w le the main body of the link may be'cut oflany de sired lengthand nailed or otherwise secured 'to any other available support as ajoist in case the device is used as a hanger for pipes or other objects.On the other hand, if the loop +2 is attached to the main body of thechain and the slotted end is free, this slotted end maybe passedfiatwise through the slot of any of the other body links and then movededgewise through the contracted portion of the slot between theshoulders -il until its reduced portion is registered with the inner endof the body link whereupon it may be returned a quarter turn to a planeat right anglesto that of the body link and thus interlocked therewith.

In Figs. 3 and 5, assuming that the link which is inserted through the'slot of the other link is an end link and that its loop is attached tothe main body of the chain, then the opposite end mav be insertedflatwise through the slot of the body link until its reduced portionadjacent the loop is registered with opposite sides of the body linkwhereupon it may be returned a quarter turn and drawn endwise in thedirection of its loop until its tapered sides 6 are brought intointerlocking engagement with the recesses 7'of said bodv link, thusinterlocking the two links together against relative movement.

What I claim is:

1. A chain composed of folded metallinks, each link having its foldedend constituting a loop of less width than its body portion, said bodyportion having a lengthwise slot, the greater portion of which isslightly wider than the loop to allow the latter to be insertedtherethrough. the slot being contracted between its ends to forminwardly projecting shoulders a sufticient distance from one end of theslot to permit the insertion of the loop of another link through theslot between such end and the shoulders.

2. A chain composed of folded metallinks. each link having its foldedend constituting a loop of less width than its body portion. said bodvportion having a lengthwise slot, the greater portion of which is ofslightlv greater width than the corresponding width of the loop topermit the loop of another link to be inserted endwise therethrough,said slot being enlarged a short distance from one end to form notchesof slightly greater length than the thickness of the bodv portion of thelink. the edges of said body portion adjacent the loop being beveledlongitudinally, whereby the beveled edges of another link may be wedgedinto said notches after inserting its loop endwise through the slot.

3. A chain composed of folded metallinks, each link having its foldedend constituting a loop of less width than its body portion, said bodyportion hating alength- Wise slot, the greater portion of which is Inwitness WhereofIhave hereunto set my slightly Wider than the loop toallow the hand this 1st day of October, 1913.

loop of another link to be inserted there- T through, said slot beingcontracted a short EVRALD KERNS' distance from one end to form inwardlypro- Witnesses:

jecting shoulders, and enlarged a short dis- H. E. CHASE, tance from itsopposite end to form notches. EVA E. GREENLEAF.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

